Maybe it just proves Cummings doesn't understand the rules of what constitutes a knock on.
See previous post - as proved by the video replays Sam knocking Mcguire's arm forced him to drop the ball. It was not an intentional drop kick or even a deliberate grubber kick where the player kicks the ball on the half-volley for better control.

Leeds were unlucky as without the VR the try may well have been given - having said that the touch judge noticed the "knock on" which is why Alibert went to the VR in the first place.

TBH this is where Leeds may have a genuine grievance as the try would probably have been given if the game had not been televised/had a VR. We've had numerous discussions about this in recent months/years.....!

Oh dear Lord NO !

IMHO he/Bentham, is the only thing that can stop us from hoisting the Cup aloft.

Hells teeth, who rattled your cage?

What has ticket sales got to do with what I was saying?



Haha, yeah maybe

I'm looking forward to next Saturday with no expectations, its quite different to be heading into a major final as massive underdogs. May the best team win!





Perhaps, but that really doesn't fill you with much confidence for refereeing standards. If the refs boss comes out and says it was a mistake, surely he's the one person who should be taken notice of on the subject?

At least with Bentham we might have a PTB that can measured in seconds as apposed to Silverwood when it is measured in ages especially where Wigan are concerned.

I still cannot understand why if you get three men in tackle you should be allowed additional time to clear the ruck - this is a deliberate ploy to slow the ruck down and should be outlawed.

With Silverwood Leeds would have no chance at least with Bentham they may have a small chance!!

I think the fact that Wigan would have preferred Silverwood and Thaler (both from near Leeds) tells it's own story.

It doesnt matter, Silverwood tried he hardest to make games of both our quarter and semi final.

IF we are true champions, we shall take the game no matter what the officials try to do.

I'll let you know a week next Sunday.

You've not been watching the game for long then ?

Ballplaying forwards love more players in the tackle. Brian McTigue used to love it. More players in, ball goes out, and there's gaps all over the place for the backs.

Mind you, if you have no skilled players then it's tough !

It is just a shame they didnt spot the blatent american chuck at the other end

Ill take that bet pm me please !!!

Correct, I've seen the red cabbage stains on his shirt.

Cummings being the man whose job it is to judge whether it was the correct decision saying it wasnt the correct decision kind of proves it wasnt the correct decision.

Whilst your interpretation of the rules states it was a knock on, the man whose job it is to interpret the rules disagrees. Technically it wasnt a knock on, we know this because we have been told so.

Doesnt quite fit with Wigan being hard done by does it?

You do realise that its Cummings to decision as to whether it constitutes a knock on dont you? He is the one who decides and hands down the interpretations to the referees, its his job to do so. His interpretation of the rules cannot possibly be wrong because he decides what the interpretation is!

Is he infallible ?

In this respect yes. He makes the decision as to what the interpretation is, so by definition his interpretation is correct.

As you say its an interpretation, but as the officials at the game, the commentators and all other media who i have heard said it was a knock on then I would have to think that Cummings interpretation is a poor one.

Doesnt matter if you dont agree with it. Im sure there are rules and interpretations in the game we all disagree with. It doesnt alter the fact that they are the rules and they are the correct interpretations.

Its all irrelevant now. Sometimes your on the right end of a wrong decision, sometimes the wrong one, it happens.

Correct. All I am trying to say though is only one man, being Cummings, thought it was a try out of all officials at the game and the commentators. Why his ideas are different from the vast majority, I dont know. Like you say though its irrelevant now. Just hope the Wembley result isnt decided on a refs call

To be fair to him. It is his job, and it is something we as a game need to have. An overall arbiter who 'judges the judges'. Where the game goes wrong I think is at times it treats every contentious decision as ultra-important and sometimes finds ridiculous ways of the referee being right when in fact it is ok if referees make the odd mistake, teams have 80 minutes to win a game, we shouldnt be so hung up on the referees influence. It is one area we are probably behind football in that bar an absolute disaster of a decision (either giving or not giving a clear goal/not goal) referees mistakes are pretty much accepted as part of the game.

Was praying it wasn't Bentham for several reasons. As Hogan said if we are true champions we should still win, however, Bentham will do his very best to make sure we dont, common knowledge that the guy hates Wigan.

Last season we lost every game he reffed.
This season we have won every game he reffed. (IIRC).

We'll be reet!

Leeds would have walked to Wembley naked if they could have Thaler as ref.

at the end of the day I can't see Bentham making any decisions that will threaten his career as a top referee, it's just a too high profile game. It's the 50/50 VR decisions that could go either way.....

I can't believe people are moaning about the choice of ref. As long as we do our job, we get on top of leeds and we keep our discipline it won't matter one bit who the ref is!

This.